Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction. It may start within seconds, minutes, or hours following contact with an allergen. An allergen is a substance that is capable of producing an allergic reaction. This happens when the body identifies a substance as harmful and wants to protect itself. Should someone have an anaphylactic […]
An Aspod is a simple carrier for emergency Aspirin. There is evidence that taking aspirin during a heart attack is very beneficial. It can reduce the size of the clot causing the heart attack and sometimes even causes the platelets in the clot to disperse. Studies show that taking aspirin increases survival rates by around […]
The Hepatitis C virus, or HCV, reproduces in the liver causing inflammation and, in more extreme cases, cirrhosis and liver cancer. There are six main strains of the virus. In the UK, genotype 1 and genotype 3 are the most common strains. The exact number of people infected with the virus is unknown due to […]
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection injures its own tissues and organs. It is a rare condition that can look just like flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection. Therefore it is essential that you know how to recognise it. Although sepsis is often referred to as either blood […]
A normal heart beats between 60 and 100 per minute when resting. Atrial Fibrillation is a condition which can increase the heartbeat to over 140 beats per minute. These beats are likely to be irregular. In the heart of someone with this condition, the upper chambers of the heart (called Atria) contract randomly and so […]
Fainting is a common cause of a patient losing consciousness. It is caused by a lack of blood to the brain. This can be caused by anxiety, hunger, pregnancy, stress, worry, tiredness, standing for long periods, too hot or after receiving local anaesthetic containing adrenaline. If a patient is lying flat, there are much less […]
The prostate gland is a muscular gland found only in men. It is normally the size of a walnut and is situated in the lower abdomen. Specifically, it is located just underneath the bladder, and the urethra passes from the bladder, through the prostate gland, to the penis. Its main function is to produce prostate […]
Having an alcoholic drink is not usually a problem but when taken in excess it can lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning may be a one-off event for the person involved, or it may be linked to a more serious case of alcoholism. Alcohols are a group of chemical compounds, most of which are liquid […]
Croup is an infection (normally viral but can be bacterial) that affects the voice box (larynx) and the airway to the lungs (trachea). It most commonly affects children aged between 6 months and 3 years. Most cases of croup do not need to be treated because the condition usually gets better on its own and […]
As the younger child brain is not developed, children can develop an infection in the area that regulates temperature. Febrile means related to fever and the temperature is usually always over 38 – 39°C. Febrile convulsions are seizures that sometimes happen in a child with a high temperature. They usually occur between the ages of […]
